I rolled my eyes. “Are you looking for a job at all?”
“I’m looking for my future husband and the father of my three children.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “What if he only wants two children?”
“Then he isn’t my future husband,” she answered matter-of-factly.
“I like how you have this all planned out.”
“I do. Now, let’s figure out how we can convince Harper working for you isn’t going to be akin to being in hell.”
“Hey,” I protested. “I’m not a bad boss.”
“No, but obviously, you aren’t a good boyfriend.”
She had a point. “That was then. This is now. Promise her carte blanche. Whatever she says goes. I will trust her judgment.”
She put her fork down and leaned forward, looking me directly in the eyes. “Is this a ploy to get her back? Are you using me and the need for a marketing person as a way to get back in her good graces?”
“No, definitely not.”
“I don’t know,” she said, giving me the side eye. “This would be just like you. I don’t want to be part of your little scheme. I didn’t really like the two of you together in high school.”
“Why not? We all got along great.”
“Because my best friend dating my brother is weird. Whenever we did stuff together, I always felt like the third wheel. It was you and Harper, and I was the tagalong. Even on trips to the mall where it was supposed to be me and Harper and you tagging along.”
“You were not and will not be a tagalong.”
“Ha! I knew it! You are trying to get back together with her.”
“No, I’m not. I’m just saying, if that were to happen, you would not be the third wheel.”
She gave me another look that said she didn’t believe me. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I want to cash in my friend card for you. Whatever you did to her is on you to fix. I can’t help you.”
“I didn’t do anything. Come on. This is to your benefit as well. You like your allowance. You like the name and the doors it opens for you. I’m not asking you to put in a fifty-hour work week. I’m just asking you to reach out to an old friend. She could take us from being good to great. It isn’t about me and her. It’s about the family business.”
I was going to appeal to her in any way I could. This was important to me, to all of us.
Cori frowned. “What if she says no?”
I shrugged. “Then you will have tried. That’s all you can do.”
“If I find out this is all about you getting back with her, I swear I will cut you off at the knees. I want no part of your love life.”
“It isn’t that,” I insisted.
“Fine.” She started to eat again.
I stared at her, waiting for her to look at me.
“What?” she asked.
“Are you going to call her?”
“Now?”
“The grand opening is in less than three weeks. I don’t have a lot of time here. The sooner the better.”
She groaned, dropping her fork once again. “I hate you.”
“You could never hate me.”
“I’m learning how.”
I flashed her a cheesy grin. “But imagine the profits. I’ll give you a recruitment fee if you can get her on board.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
I watched and waited while she typed out a text. “Don’t you think you should call? Wouldn’t that be more personable?”
She frowned at me and put the phone down. “If you know how to do it, why don’t you ask her?”
“Because you’re asking her.”
“Can I please eat now?”
“What’d you text her?”
“Oh my god,” she groaned. “You are not going to let this go.”
“I’m just asking what you texted her.”
“I feel like we are in the sixth grade again. Remember? You did this when you had a crush on that one girl. What was her name?”
“I don’t know who you are talking about.”
“Liar. You hounded me until I invited her for a sleepover. Then you made a complete fool of yourself trying to impress her. I told you then I was not your matchmaker. I’m still not.”
“You aren’t matchmaking. You are helping the family business.”
She didn’t look convinced. I went back to my dinner. I hoped their friendship was enough to pull Harper in. Yes, I was trying to cash in on their friendship and use it to our advantage. And yes, maybe I was hoping there was a chance we could have some kind of relationship as well. I wasn’t